11 Best Things to do in Meknes, Morocco, in 1 day or less

Introduction

Meknes is often overshadowed by its neighbors, Fes and Rabat, but this former imperial city is full of charm and history. Once the capital of Sultan Moulay Ismail in the 17th century, Meknes was designed to impress with monumental gates, vast palaces, and elegant gardens. Today it feels quieter than Morocco’s bigger cities, making it a refreshing stop if you’re looking to explore at a slower pace.

We visited Meknes on our road trip through Morocco and loved the mix of grand architecture and laid-back medina life. From Bab Mansour, one of the country’s most iconic gates, to hidden gems like the Dar Jamai Museum, there are plenty of places worth discovering. In this article, we’ll take you through the best things to do in Meknes and why it deserves a spot on your Morocco itinerary.

Read: Our complete 2-week Morocco Road Trip Itinerary

Getting There

Meknes is well-connected, which makes it an easy stop on any Morocco itinerary.

• By train – The most convenient way to reach Meknes is by train. Direct trains run from Fes (about 40 minutes), Rabat (around 2 hours), and Casablanca (3 hours). The station is outside the medina, so you’ll need a petit taxi to reach the old city.
• By car – If you’re on a road trip, driving to Meknes is straightforward. From Fes, the highway takes less than an hour, with a toll of about 12 dirhams. Parking near the medina is easy and inexpensive—we paid 10 dh for two hours just outside the old city.
• By bus – CTM and Supratours operate comfortable buses to Meknes from most major cities. It’s usually a bit slower than the train but can be useful if train tickets are sold out.
• On a tour – If you’re short on time or prefer not to navigate on your own, you’ll find plenty of guided day trips from Fes that include Meknes, Volubilis, and sometimes Moulay Idriss.

We recommend to rent a car through Discover Cars with free cancellation. Book your rental car here.

Moving Around

Meknes is smaller and less hectic than other Moroccan cities, which makes getting around fairly easy.

• On foot – Most of the main sights are close to the medina and can be reached on foot. Wandering through the narrow streets is part of the experience, and since the old city isn’t as overwhelming as Fes, it feels much more manageable.
• Petit taxis – For places a bit further out, like the train station or the modern part of town, petit taxis are a quick and affordable option. Just make sure the meter is running, or agree on a price before getting in.
• Car – If you arrive by car, you can park outside the medina for just a few dirhams. We paid 10 dh for two hours, and it was hassle-free. Once parked, it’s easiest to explore the rest of the city on foot.

Where to Stay in Fès

Since Meknes is compact and can easily be explored in a few hours, we recommend basing yourself in Fes and visiting Meknes as part of a day trip—especially if you’re also planning to continue on to Chefchaouen. Fes has a wider choice of riads and accommodations inside the old medina, so you’ll get the full Moroccan experience.

Here are a few options we recommend in Fes, depending on your budget:

• (€): Riad Farah: A simple, budget-friendly riad with warm hospitality, ideal if you want to stay in the medina without spending much.
• (€€): Riad Dar Borj: A charming mid-range choice, beautifully decorated and perfectly located to explore the old city. Great balance between comfort and price.
• (€€€): Riad Laaroussa: A luxurious riad with spacious suites, a pool, and a rooftop terrace overlooking the medina. Perfect if you want to treat yourself.

Here are all your accommodation options in Fès

What to eat

Food in Meknes is similar to what you’ll find across Morocco—hearty, flavorful, and usually very affordable. If you’re just visiting on a day trip, you’ll likely have time for lunch before continuing to Volubilis or Chefchaouen. Here are a few dishes and spots worth trying:

• Tajine – The classic Moroccan dish, slow-cooked in clay pots. In Meknes, you’ll find chicken with preserved lemon or lamb with prunes as popular variations.
• Couscous – Traditionally eaten on Fridays, couscous is served with vegetables, chickpeas, and sometimes meat.
• Pastilla – A sweet-and-savory pie made with thin pastry, often filled with chicken or pigeon, almonds, and cinnamon sugar. A real treat if you see it on the menu.
• Harira – A comforting soup of tomatoes, lentils, and chickpeas, often served as a starter.

Where to Eat in Meknes:

• Restaurant Ya Hala – A traveler-friendly spot serving good tajines and couscous at fair prices.
• Le Collier de la Colombe – If you want something a bit more refined, this restaurant serves Moroccan cuisine with a slightly upscale twist.

Even if you just sit down at a small café near Bab Mansour, you’ll likely get a tasty, simple tajine or couscous for a few dirhams.

Tip: We use the DJI Action 4 to film our vlogs — compact, durable, and perfect for capturing every adventure.

Best things to do in Meknes

Bab El Mansour Laalej

One of the highlights of Meknes is Bab El Mansour Laalej, the grand gate that once served as the ceremonial entrance to the Kasbah of Sultan Moulay Isma’il. Built at the end of the 17th century and completed in the early 18th, it’s widely admired as one of the finest gates in Morocco, decorated with zellij tilework, marble columns, and impressive arches.

When we visited, the gate was under renovation, so we couldn’t fully appreciate its beauty up close. But even with scaffolding, you can still sense its scale and importance. Today, Bab El Mansour stands as one of the city’s most famous landmarks and is a perfect starting point for a walk through the medina.

Tip: You can also visit Meknes as a Day Trip to Fez with this Guided Tour and Tickets

Lahdim Square

Right next to Bab El Mansour lies Lahdim Square, the main square of Meknes. It was created between 1672 and 1674 when Sultan Moulay Ismail demolished part of the old city to make space for his new palace complex and this vast open plaza.

Today, the square is the heart of local life in Meknes. By day, it’s a good place to pause and admire the view of Bab El Mansour, while in the evenings it fills with food stalls, storytellers, and street performers. From here, you can easily wander into the nearby souk, which begins just off the square.

Check our Google Map of Morocco

Dar Jamai Museum

One of the best places to visit in Meknes is the Dar Jamai Museum, housed in a beautiful 19th-century palace built by the influential Jama’i family (who also constructed the Jamai Palace in Fes). The building itself is stunning, with traditional courtyards, carved wood, and colorful zellij tiles that give you a real sense of Moroccan craftsmanship.

Inside, the museum displays a wide collection of artifacts and art objects from Meknes and beyond—ceramics, jewelry, textiles, and traditional crafts. Our favorite part was the section dedicated to Moroccan music and instruments, which really brought the culture to life.

It’s usually quiet, which makes it easy to explore at your own pace and enjoy the palace without the crowds. For us, this was the highlight of Meknes and the perfect spot to appreciate Moroccan architecture and history.

We usually travel with Airalo eSIMs, but when we need unlimited data for work, we go with Holafly.

Madrasa Bou Inania & Medina

From Lahdim Square, you’ll naturally find yourself wandering into the souks on the way to the Madrasa Bou Inania. To be honest, this stretch of the medina felt more like a modern market than the traditional atmosphere we had experienced in Fes, but it’s still worth a stroll to see the everyday life of Meknes.

The Bou Inania Madrasa itself is one of the city’s most notable monuments. Built during the Marinid period, it’s known for its richly decorated woodwork, zellij tiles, and elegant courtyard. The building has been well preserved thanks to later restorations and is considered a fine example of Moroccan madrasa architecture. Unfortunately, it was closed when we visited, but even from the outside, you can appreciate its beauty.

Here are all your accommodation options in Fès

Prison de Kara

Another intriguing site in Meknes is the Prison de Kara, also known as Habs Qara or the Prison of the Christian Slaves. Built in the early 18th century by order of Sultan Moulay Ismail, this underground complex is made up of vast vaulted chambers stretching beneath the city.

Legend has it that thousands of prisoners were once held here, many of them captured during the Sultan’s campaigns or taken from European ships. Walking through the dim chambers gives you a sense of the scale and the atmosphere of this place, even though much of its history is still wrapped in mystery and legend.

Check our Google Map of Morocco

Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail

One of the most important monuments in Meknes is the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, the final resting place of the Sultan who ruled Morocco from 1672 to 1727. Located within his former Kasbah, this funerary complex is both a historic and religious site, reflecting the grandeur of the ruler who transformed Meknes into an imperial capital.

The mausoleum is normally open to visitors and is one of the few Islamic religious sites in Morocco that non-Muslims are allowed to enter. Inside, you can expect richly decorated courtyards, zellij tilework, and carved plaster that showcase some of the finest Moroccan craftsmanship.

When we visited, it happened to be closed—possibly due to a holiday—so we couldn’t see it from the inside. Still, it remains a must on the list of things to do in Meknes if you get the chance.

Tip: You can also visit Meknes as a Day Trip to Fez with this Guided Tour and Tickets

Khemis Gate

Khemis Gate is one of the historic entrances to Meknes, built during the reign of Sultan Moulay Ismail. Like Bab El Mansour, it showcases the city’s monumental architecture with arches and decorative details, though it’s less visited. It’s a nice stop if you’re exploring the outer parts of the Kasbah.

Norias Basin (Sahrij Swani)

Also known as Sahrij Swani, this large water basin was built in the 17th century to supply the city and the royal palace with water. Fed by underground canals and giant norias (waterwheels), it’s an impressive feat of engineering. Today, it’s a quiet place for a stroll, with reflections of the surrounding walls in the water.

Royal Stables

The Royal Stables of Meknes were constructed by Sultan Moulay Ismail to house thousands of his horses. The scale of the site is remarkable—even in ruins, you can sense the ambition behind it. Vast vaulted chambers and rows of stone pillars make it one of the city’s most atmospheric historic remains.

Here are all your accommodation options in Fès

Volubilis

Not far from Meknes lies Volubilis, one of Morocco’s most impressive archaeological sites and a highlight of any trip to the region. This partly excavated Berber-Roman city may have been the capital of the Kingdom of Mauretania during the reign of King Juba II. Before that, the capital might have been at Gilda.

The ruins are extensive, with streets, villas, temples, and some remarkably well-preserved mosaics that give you a real glimpse into life here nearly 2,000 years ago. The setting, surrounded by rolling hills, makes it just as beautiful as it is historic.

Practical Info

• Parking: 10 dh
• Entrance fee: 70 dh per person
• Facilities: A small restaurant and toilets are available on-site

If you don’t have a rental car, you can still visit Volubilis on a day trip from Fes. The most convenient option is to join a combined Volubilis, Moulay Idriss, and Meknes Tour, which covers all the main sites in one day.

Tip: Book your tour in advance to be secure your spot on the Volubilis Roman Ruins, Mouly Idriss, & Meknes Day Trip from Fes

Chefchaouen

Often called the Blue Pearl of Morocco, Chefchaouen is one of the country’s most photogenic towns and an absolute must if you’re traveling in the north. Nestled in the Rif Mountains, it’s famous for its blue-washed streets, steep cobbled lanes, and relaxed mountain vibe.

The heart of the town is Place Outa el Hammam, a lively square lined with cafés and overlooked by the 15th-century Kasbah, which houses a small ethnographic museum. Nearby, you’ll also spot the octagonal minaret of the Great Mosque rising above the rooftops.

What makes Chefchaouen special is wandering—every corner of the medina offers another picture-perfect alley, a handmade shop, or a quiet spot shaded in blue. Beyond the town, you can also hike in the surrounding Rif Mountains for stunning views.

Tip: This tour is great if you want to avoid driving yourselves to Chefchaouen

Road Trip Itinerary from Fes to Chefchaouen

Day 1:

• Drive to Meknes
• Explore Meknes
• Drive to Volubilis
• Visit the site
• Drive to Chefchaouen
• Dine out.

Read: Our complete 2-week Morocco Road Trip Itinerary